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Surgery day — A hard day, but a really good one

Here’s a quick timeline on today’s surgery. Times are approximate (no, I didn’t stop to type the blog as actual events were happening).

5:40 a.m.: We leave the hotel and walk the 0.4 miles to Mays Clinic at MD Anderson. Surgery is on the fourth floor.

6:15 a.m.: They call Jenny back and begin pre-op procedures — questions and a change of clothes (including knee-high stockings and warm socks — we will find out where to purchase these).

Jenny before surgery. (Notice the socks)

6:40 a.m.: Jenny’s parents arrive and are able to give her a hug before surgery. In the pre-op room, only one visitor can be in there at a time. Linda and Bill get a turn to be with her, and then I get to go back.

6:45 a.m.: Jenny is starting to get nervous. She’s very strong woman — really, really brave. But she’s also an emotional woman. The nurse helps comfort Jenny by telling her, among other things, “I know, honey. You don’t have time for this. We’re going to do this and you can get back to your kids. You ain’t got time for this.” Of course, it was very appropriate of me to think of Sweet Brown … “Ain’t nobody got time for that.“(Oklahoma City friends will know the meaning of this one).

6:50 a.m.: I get to hold her wedding ring. It’s the only thing she had on her that she still needs to remove. It’s an odd feeling holding her ring for her. I don’t much care for it.

7 a.m.: Dr. Gainer, the primary surgeon comes in. She looks even younger when she is dressed for surgery. She brings a new wave of calm into the room. She’s confident.

7:10 a.m.: Time for the big hug, they say. Jenny is going to be loopy in a minute, so she won’t remember anything after that. So I get to give Jenny one more big hug from me and from all of #TeamJenny.

7:15 a.m.: The anesthesiologist begins work on Jenny. He knocks the edge off, and then after a few minutes asks how many drinks it takes for Jenny to start to feel the effects of alcohol. (I’m still there to make sure she’s telling the truth.) What he gave her wasn’t enough, maybe? That’s my Jenny.

7:20 a.m.: Jenny admits to being apprehensive about what she might tell the doctors as the drugs kick in. The anesthesiologist says he rarely hears anything too good, except for when an Air Force One pilot was his patient. The anesthesiologist is now privy to national secrets, apparently.

7:25 a.m.: The anesthesiologist politely says, “Thank you.” That’s my cue to leave. It’s off to the waiting room. Dr. Gainer will be finding me after her part of the surgery is complete. That will be in a couple of hours. In the meantime, I busy myself with breakfast, coffee, Facebook, email and starting to type this post. For me, staying busy is a good thing. And Jenny’s parents are great company.

Dr. Sarah Gainer

10:05 a.m.: Dr. Gainer comes into the waiting room to give us a great report. Her part of the surgery is complete, and the sentinel lymph nodes she removed were biopsied and tested negative. Woo Hoo!

11:10 a.m.: Dr. Kronowitz emerges. He’s not as enthusiastic as Dr. Gainer. He’s very serious and direct. He says the expanders look good. He did offer this insight: “She (Dr. Gainer) was worried about it, but it’s fine. As a plastic surgeon, it’s good that the surgeon is worried about the skin she leaves.” And with that, his chit-chat was over. He said we’ll wait an hour for her to wake up, then I can see her.

11:50 a.m.: I’m ready. I really can’t wait to see her. Meanwhile, Dr. Gainer is back in the waiting room to speak with another patient’s family. She stops by again to let us know that Jenny is in recovery. Maybe Dr. Gainer gets to go to lunch now? As Linda says, “She’s so darn cute … You think she’s going to go get a Happy Meal?“

12 p.m.: A report from a nice gentleman manning the waiting room … “She’s sound asleep — very peaceful.” Great, but I’m impatient now. And Jenny hasn’t been able to sleep in for 11 years. She likes to sleep. She might take advantage of this opportunity. This could be a while.

12:15 p.m.: After a little persistence and passive-aggressively hovering around the front desk, I get to go back to see Jenny. She’s not feeling so good. She’s in a lot of pain. But she likes the drinks of water. “It’s the best water ever,” she whispers. She asks about the results. But she’s so drowsy and in so much pain that the good news barely registers. She doesn’t feel good at all. That part isn’t very much fun. Even the mention of bacon doesn’t make her feel better — and if you know Jenny, that means she’s really not feeling well.

2 p.m.: Jenny is able to walk about 30 yards to her overnight room, where she eats lunch and gets some stronger pain meds that will last a lot longer. She’s still in quite a bit of pain, but is able to rest more comfortably. This is a good step. She has more color to her face and is looking forward to crashing when the pain meds take over.

2:45 p.m.: Jenny’s parents arrive in the room after getting a bite to eat. I retrieve her pillow pet with all the prayers and thoughts attached to them, and then I get something to eat myself.

3:15 p.m.: I get back to the room, and Jenny is much more perky and asking about what she said prior to being knocked out. She doesn’t remember any of it. Most of what I told her was accurate. The rest of what I told her was just to mess with her. She’s able to joke a bit, so that’s great to see.

4 p.m.: She’s still in quite a bit of pain, so she gets some morphine. That, and being able to shut the door for a while, allows Jenny to get some good rest. She sleeps for about an hour and a half. She is still in discomfort when she wakes up. This is just the way it’s going to be for a while.

Jenny resting with her pillow pet of prayers in the background.

We are supposed to be released in the morning. We’ll go back to the hotel to recover until a follow-up appointment on Thursday. If all goes according to plan, we’ll be driving back to Edmond on Friday.

She’ll recover more through the next week, and then we’ll return to Houston for results of the pathology report and to hear the recommended next steps in the treatment plan. Dr. Gainer and Dr. Moulder (the oncologist) will lay out the plan on Nov. 15.

Thank you for your prayers and the positive thoughts and messages. It’s really been great. I actually can feel lifted up by our friends and family.

We are both stronger in the fight because of all the support beneath us.

Alan, thank you for taking care of Jenny. You are the perfect mate for her and I really enjoy seeing the love you guys share. I love the Herzberger family! Give her a hug for me. So glad we are on our way to recovery.

Just wanted to tell you, that you and Jen have been in our thoughts all day. You are a wonderful man Alan, Jen is so lucky to have you by her side. And I think you’re lucky to have found this smart, strong and wonderful woman. UNBEATABLE TEAM! Sorry, please indulge the mush for a moment. 🙂 Chin up and feel the love coming your way from your Lawton family.

We hereby attest that events as reported in this post are factually correct. 🙂

Great job, Alan. What a relief that today is over and the news is good. A huge step down the road back to “normal.”

Our Jenny is on her way, and the support, thoughts and prayers coming from #Team Jenny will help her down that road to the finish line. You guys are amazing. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

I was in the DFW airport today, and found myself walking with a guy from the AAdvantage Priority access group
who drives the cart from gate to gate. I told him your story. While I wasn’t able to meet Debbie, she was working and I asked him to pass on our family’s thanks and told him that what he does makes a difference… Not certain, but I think he had a little bounce in his step…:)

Oh thank goodness all went well! Just got off work and am thrilled to read the good news. Thank you Alan for keeping us informed, I’ve been thinking of you guys all day up here in Minnesota. Jenny rules!! Keep it up, love Mike

What a huge, monumental sigh of relief! Those results are sooo uplifting!!! From here on out – it’s moving forward and not looking back. Every day will bring new strength, better healing, less pain, more of a sense of normalcy. You both are truly amazing – – you make me think of the song Martina McBride recorded entitled “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” – I don’t know if you like country/western, but you need to hear this song. It has your name on it, Alan!! You are a rock, a hero, and everything good that a husband should be. It won’t be long before the tension and stress of this time will dim in memory, but the support and strength you have both given each other during this time will provide a bond you will cherish the rest of your lives. . . . not to mention the life lessons you are teaching your children on commitment, faith, compassion, and how to deal with the difficulties life throws at you. Alan – you will be forever “Superman” to them. Take it from one who knows! I’m sorry this is so long and mushy, but my heart is just exploding with thankfulness, joy, and love for you both! Pass lots of hugs around, Judy